I just saw a Glass Doctor commercial on TV, and they said:

"Glass Doctor is the only company that guarantees your windshield against BREAKAGE for a full 12 months..."

does this really mean they will replace someones w/s for free even if its hit by a rock or whatever, or do you guys think its just some sort of gimmick? because that seems ridiculous if they would guarantee it against ANY breakage. not to mention, that would mean safelite would be right behind them with that same guarantee, which would be insane

scam

I think it's like an extended warranty program. I could be wrong though.

This is not a scam, it is legitimate. The Dwyer Group/Glass Doctor is a part owner of PPG and the Lynx Network.

When you own the glass manufacturing business, set higher prices for yourself through your own network, and of course nudge {like the way I avoided using the STEER word?} customers toward your own shops, you can afford to make guarantees like this.

when i first started working for myself i did some sub work for GD. it is like an extended warranty. but heres the method to there madness they have the custom pay w/s,labor,uri,for the first job and labor for the "free w/s" at the same time. they hope there w/s doesnt break in a year and they just got labor twice for free.

Ok, Wrong. First off, they dont own the network anymore and this is why some of thes Glass Dr'sare going under. The local one here went under and was only getting 10 a month from the network.
Second, the program works like this: It has a standard one year warranty on breakage. They will only cover the GLASS not the labor, so you are still stuck paying if you dont have insurance. In SC you have 0 deductible glass, they say they only bill the insurance for the labor and no glass,Hmmm Ok maybe if they are honest. They do however, sell an extended warranty plan to cover the labor as well.

A few issues with this: The franchise owner eats the glass when its replaced under warranty, so it comes out of their profits.(Benefits of Franchise)
Another issue, In SC you can not gift an insurance customer so there could be issues with the Atty General on this. I think its covered because of them calling it a warranty program. Now if I am not mistaken, isnt a warranty some kind of insurance?? Do you have to be licensed to do this?? Some grey areas with this.

Now, With that said, Why worry about them?? How many times does one of your customers call you back to see if you will warranty a rock break?? Me, Almost never.

Knightlord, You are incorrect. Dwyer doesn't have any ownership interest in PGW at all. Their guarantee has nothing to do with PPG/PGW whatsoever.

They do this in my aria but the trick is that they price the w/s so high id be willing to do it for that i sell w/s for 1/3 the price they get for a garinteed w/s and if you dont whant the garintee they will sell you a w/s for the going price.

If memory serves me right, Libby Owens Ford
attempted this some 30 or so years ago and it was "SCUTTLED" by the insurance companies. (The old(er) timers may remember it) There were actually Yellow page ads to this effect in which LOF would give a "for the life of the car" new windshield replacement guarantee. For some reason however,"It just disappeared"!
Remember this, Ira?

PS...apologies if my facts are off, after 40 years in this business as an independent the fire isn't
as intense as it once was (or the memory)!

I thought you have to have a licence to sell insurance??

Actually the odds of a replacement windshield breaking within 12 months is pretty remote. Not that I'd do it, but the chance of it happening again that quickly isn't that big a risk. Better that than life of vehicle. Might be smart on their part.

Around 20 years ago LOF tried this in the Southwest. Some of the State Insurance Commisioners came down on them saying that they were essentially offering auto insurance coverage. It was alright if they wanted to do it, but the states just wanted to make sure they adhered to all the same regulations.
LOF dropped the program like a stone.

-----Actually the odds of a replacement windshield breaking within 12 months is pretty remote. Not that I'd do it, but the chance of it happening again that quickly isn't that big a risk. Better that than life of vehicle. Might be smart on their part.-------


i disagree, although i guess it depends on where you are. i have customers all the time tell me that they get a new W/S just about once a year, especially on commercial vehicles. ive even seen customers come back a few weeks or months later with another crack.

the funniest one was, on a replacement on an ES lexus, the w/s stress cracked on install. so i recommended we wait till at least monday or tuesday to do it over (it was friday), but the customer INSISTED it be done right then and there, because he had to turn it in on monday for the lease, and he was going on a trip over the weekend. so we get it done, after wasting an extra hour getting the glass out to the job. customer winds up in the shop first thing monday morning anyway, with a rock shot... i lol'd

I was thinking the same thing O.
on the whole the averages may be low for replacement but I'll bet alot higher for re-replacement.

Auto glass specialists (red trucks) had a deal w/ state farm back in the day that was an unconditional free replacement as well... back in the day when there was still money in this biz.

Puzzled said, "Knightlord, You are incorrect. Dwyer doesn't have any ownership interest in PGW at all. Their guarantee has nothing to do with PPG/PGW whatsoever."

The parent company of Glass Doctor, The Dwyer Group, was who I intended to say owned part of PPG. This information is word of mouth, but the mouth it came from was a salesman trying to get me to buy a franchise in this area.

As it has been pointed out, the chances of a W/S getting broken by anything other than stress in the first year is extremely remote, and with the prices they charge, the franchise owner can probably afford to cover the labor "out of pocket".

SCGlassman is the winner..........
We had actually called them and asked they will explain it to you just ask.

If my memory serves me, the 12 month warrenty covered the glass only. Moldings, labor, etc where not covered. As I understood it, they (glass doctor) had a deal worked out with ppg over this. On top of this, there was an additional warrenty that was available for $19.95 that would cover everything for one year. It was part of their G12 program. I hated pushing it on people as it made me feel like I was at Jiffy Lube.

auto glass center had one of these too, but it got too expensive... theirs was lifetime, if i remember correctly..

A 12 month warranty on the glass only isn't a horrible idea if you had a decent deal worked out with a supplier. If for example you agreed to buy all your glass from them if they joined you in the warranty and gave you the occasional replacement for free.

AGN

I worked for them for about 3 of the last 4 years, and yes, they guaranteed the glass against breakage from normal road hazard for 1 year. They had a deal with PGW to cover the glass only and also they bought most of their parts from PGW. I don't recall what the cost was when I left there last year, but it was real.

The cost of the windshield is not counted as a loss, the shop owner doesn't pay for the part. technically there is a program through PGW and Pilkington, and you have to use their parts only. Its a real deal and the shop owner doesn't loose. but nothing in the Auto Industry is free.

If I remember correctly.....I couldn't care less. All of you should look around at the important issues in your area. But that would take effort now wouldn't it.